Tripod particularly applicable to photographic cameras



Nov. 2, 1943. v v.- E. WHITMAN. 0 I TRIPOD PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE TO PHOTOGR APHIC CAMERAS Original Filed JBJ I. 27, 1 941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 2, 1943. -v. E." WHITMAN 2,333,501

TRIPOD PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE TO PI- IOTOGRAPHIC CAMERAS Original Filed Jan. 27,1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 5.

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TRIPOD PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE TO PHOTOGfiAPHIC CAMERAS Original Filed Jan. 27,1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 v lllllllllllllllll I nvenior: EWfi/zimam,

inner clutch members;

7 Patented Nov. 2, 1943 TRIPOD PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE TO PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERAS Vernon E. Whitman, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to The Folmer Graflex Corporation, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation Delaware Original application January 27, 1941, Serial No.

376,018, now Patent No. 2,297,927, dated Octoher 6, 1942. Divided and this application September 4, 1942, Serial No. 457,284

9 Claims.

This application is a division of my co-pending application Ser. No. 376,018, filed January 27, 1941, now Patent No. 2,297,927, dated October 6, 1942.

This invention relates to tripods particularly adapted for use with photographic cameras.

In order that the principle of the invention, whichis directed to an all-metal tripod, may be readily understood, I have disclosed a single em- Y bodiment thereof, and alsoa slight modification, in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig.4 is a vertical cross section through the tripod with the legs folded for packing, showing the construction of the several parts;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the tripod, partially in horizontal section, to show more clearly the construction of the several parts, particularly the leg hinges;

Fig. 3 represents the tripod vertical member locking nut partially in vertical section;

Fig. 4 is an elevational detail oi! one of the leg Fig. '5 is an elevation of a tripod having a camera attached thereto, the legs being adjusted for a low'position of the tripod;

Fig. 6 is a detail partially in vertical section, showing the construction of the leg tubular members and clamping means therefor;

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the tripod showing the vertically extending member reversed to support a camera below the tripod head;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the tripod when in a folded condition, being partially in vertical section, to show the tripod adapted for use when the vertically extending member is not provided;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the tripod having the legs fully extended and the vertically extending member also partially extended;

Flg.-10 is an enlarged wtail in elevation of a part of the tripod head, showing the hinge member of one o! the tripod legs; and

Fig. 11 is an elevation of the tripod when completely folded.

There has long been need for an all-metal tripod strongly constructed, and ioldable into a compact package, and at the same time having sumcient adjustment so that a camera may be supported thereo floor or six feet r higher above the floor. Such needs are supplied by the invention herein disclosed.

, Among the objects of the invention are to provide a tripod having a centrally extending .mem-

hen-s6 as substantially toincrease its over-all ently of the movement of the other tripod legs.

within a few inches from the permit such extended movement of substantially height; to provide adjustable legs that, when clamped into position, are free from shake and slipping; to provide a tripod with means for positioning the legs at a predetermined distance from the center of the tripod so as to prevent spreading oi. the legs when weight is placed on the tripod; and to provide a head for the tripod having hinged legs pinned thereto, together with means to provide fixed tension on the legs with respect to the tripod head at all times.

As above indicated, the tripod is herein disclosed as an all-metal tripod.

Referring. first particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the tripod head is represented at 20, and is therein shown as provided with substantially radially extending bosses 2|, 2|, to receive preferably three tripod-leg-hinge members, severally indicated at 22, and each hinged to the tripod top 20'by a suitable hinge pin 23. Each of the said leg hinge members 22 is provided with a stop member 24 desirably in the shape of an integral bell crank, best indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 as hinged to the leg hinge member 22 by pin 25. The said tripod head 20 is provided with a series of pads 26, 26, the appropriate one of which is engaged by the corresponding stop member 24 when the leg hinge member is swung in a contraclockwise direction about the hinge pin 23, viewing Fig. 1.

In order to permit each tripod leg to be swung in more nearly a horizontal position, the appropriate stop member 24 is adapted to be pushed .said stop member 24 to pass the corresponding pad 26. When the said stop member 24 is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the movement of the leg or legs of the tripod in an outward direc-.

tion will be arrested by a stop or stops 24 and pad or pads 26, thus preventing any spreading of the tripod legs. Each stop member 24 being independent of the others, the stopping of the movement of each tripod leg can be efiected independ- This is important when using the tripod on uneven ground or other uneven base or platform. Moreover, as is evident from Fig. 8, each of the tripod legs can be swung from the vertical position into nearly a horizontal position,-as the shape of the tripod-leg hinge members 22 is such as to ninety degrees upon the hinge ears 23.

Each tripod leg is designated generally at 21,

and is made up of three sections, namely, the upper, the intermediate and the lower section.

The said upper tubular section is indicated at 28, and is fitted over a reduced diameter portion 29 of the corresponding leg hinge member 22, and is attached thereto in any suitable or well known manner, as, for example, by shrinking the tubular section 28 onto the reduced diameter portion 29. The said intermediate tubular section 38 is provided with a guide member or bushing 3| having a reduced diameter portion 32 fitted into the intermediate tubular section 30 and keyed thereto by means of a through-pin 33. The

section tube 38 are slightly larger than the outer diameters of the intermediate-section tube 30 and lower-section tube 34 respectively, and each member or bushing 3| has an easy running fit in the upper-section tube 28, and each member or bushing 35 has an easy running fit in the intermediate-section tube 38. The said inner clutch members are of such diameter as also to provide an easy running fit on the intermedisaid lower tubular section, shown at 34, is protion provides a free non-binding action on the tubes as they are telescoped within each other. The structure and fitting of all the tubular sections and the guide members for all three tripod legs are desirably precisely the same, one with another.

'Referring' particularly to Fig. 6 and also to Fig. 1, there is shown as attached to the upper section tube 28 an inner clutch member designated generally as 38 (more clearly shown in detail in Fig. 4) It is composed of a tubular section having an enlarged upper body section 39 bored out to receive the reduced diameter end 28 of the corresponding tripod'leg 22. Joined with the said upper body section 38 .is a threaded portion 46, and joined with such threaded portion is a.

conical or externally tapered clutch member 4| having a suitable number of lengthwise extending slots 42, 42. Threaded over the inner clutch member 38 is a clutch sleeve 43, the upper end whereof is bored out to override the upper end 35 of the said inner clutch member 38. The lower end of the said clutch sleeve 43 is provided with an internally tapered end formation 44 to engage the externally tapered end 4| of the inner clutch member 38. As the said clutch sleeve 43 is turned in a clockwise direction, the internally tapered formation 44 is caused to be moved upwardly on the conical or outwardly tapered formation 4| due to the action of the threaded portion 48 ofthe inner clutch member 38, and the internal thread 45 of the said clutch member 43, thus clamping the intermediate section provided by the tube 38 securely to the upper-section tube 28. The intermediate-section tube 38 is also provided with a clutch or. similar structure for the purpose of clamping the lower-section tube 34 to the intermediate-section tube 36.

It will be evident from the description thus far given of the structure that each tripod leg can be extended to any position and then be securely clamped. Since the intermediate section tube 38 is provided with a guide member or bushing 3| and the lower-section tube 34 is provided with a. guide member or bushing 35, there will be practically no play or side movement in any of the said tubes or sections when the clutches therefor are in their locked position. The said guide members or bushings 3| and 35 also prevent the corresponding intermediate-section tube 36 and lower-section tube 34 from passing beyond their respective clutches.

As hereinbefore pointed out, the openings in the upper-section tube 28 and the intermediateate-section tube 38 and the lower-section tube 34 respectively. Therefore, the lower-section tube 34 will be stopped by the inner diameter of the clutch member 38 by the act of engaging the member or bushing 35 when the lower-section tube 34 is withdrawn a suiiicient distance. The same is true when the intermediate-section tube 38 is withdrawn a suflicient distance to engage the member or bushing 3| on the inner-clutch member 38.

Tothe lower end of the lower-section tube 34, as best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, is attached a removable member 46 having a knurled knob formation 41, and to the lower end of the said removable member 46 is attached a rubber foot 48. The upper end of the said removable member 46, which is engaged by the lower-section tube'34, is provided with a point (not herein shown).

The said removable member 46 can be withdrawn from the lower-section tube 34 and turned end for end, thus providing pointed ends for each of the tripod legs in a manner not necessary further to describe.

Again referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the tripod head 28 is provided with a suitable, preferably large, centrally located hole or opening through which passes a large-diameter, tubular support member 48 having a radially extending disk-like flange 58 overlying the said tripod head 20. Projecting upward from the disk-like flange 58 is a cylindrical boss 5| provided with internal threads 52. a The said tubular support member 49 is also provided below the flange 50 with external threads 53 receiving a nut 54, which holds the tubular support member 49 in engagement with the said tripod head 28. In order to prevent rotation of the said disk-like flange 58 with respect to the tripod head 28, there is provided a dowel pin 55. The nut 54 also holds in position a flat ring-like spring 56 having a series of radially extending fingers 51, 51, best shown in Fig. 1, and severally adapted to impart a downward pressure on the tripod-head leg hinge members 22, 22, the number of spring fingers 51 therefore equalling the number of leg hinge members 22. 5

Passing through the axial opening of the tubular support member 49 is a long support tube 58 having attached to its upper end a tripod disk or support plate 58 held to the support tube 58 by means of a pin 60. The said disk or support plate 58 is provided with a downwardly extending boss 6|, the lower end of which has an opening for the passage of a clamp screw rod or camera- -.held to the said rod 62 by means of a pin 61.

The lower end of the tubular support member 49, as shown in Fig. 1, is provided with a reduced .diameter portion 68 over which is fitted an inner clutch or chuck member =66 provided with an ber 12 having an internal thread 13 is threaded to the said inner clutch member 88 to engage the threads 18 thereon, and the lower end of the.

outer clutch member 12 is provided with an internal taper H the outwardly tapered portion ll of the inner clutch or chuck member 8 and which is caused to tighten about the said support tube 58 when the outer clutch member 12 is turned in a clockwise direction. The said clutch serves either as a guide means that can be adjusted so as to fit closely the support tube 58 or actually to lock the position of the support tube 58. In general practice, the said clutch is adjusted to provide a close fit around the said support tube 58, but allowing the latter to operate vertically therein, thus providing a brace for the said support tube 58.

As best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, there is threaded into the cylindrical boss an upper clutch member 15 that is provided with a centrally depending tubular member 15 having a threaded portion I and a lower,. inner clutch member 18 provided with lengthwise "extending radial slots 18, IS. The vertically extending support tube 58 passes through the said lower,inner clutch member 18, and when the said upper clutch member 15 is turned in aTclockwise direction, the said lower, inner clutch member 18 is caused to be closed by reason of the tapered internal formation 88 on the upper end of the vertical tubular support member 88. f

As hereinbefore pointed out, the lower clutch sliding fit on the support tube 58 and the upper clutch or chuck member 15 is caused to clamp pod and the legs of the tripod are folded up or head, and then reversing and inserting the said support tube 58 from the bottom of the tripod head. The said support tube 58 is then adiusted to position, and it is securely clamped by.

turning the said uriperclutch or chuck member 15 in a clockwise direction. When the tripod is so adjusted, it will appear as shown in Fig. 'l.'

A felt washer 85 is placed in a recess. in the upper clutch or chuck member 15 to act as a bumper when the said support tube 58 is lowered.

When the camera 83 is removed from the tricollapsed and the support tube 5 8 is in its lowermost position, the structure then appears as.

shown in Fig. 11.

. It may be desirable to provides. tripod having the features herein disclosed but without the a provision of the support tube 58, while'at the same time retaining the numerous other features of the tripod. To accomplish this, I have, as shown in Fig. 8, provided a disk '86 having a downwardly extending boss 81 provided with an external thread 88. The said boss 81 is cylin- I drically recessed to receive a coiled spring 83 and a collar 64. The said disk 88 is held to the tripod head "by means of a clamping nut. 88

- having an internal thread 98. The said clampor chuck member 88 is adjusted to provide a nice securely the saidsupport tube 58 in any selected object to be held to the tripod. .In Fig. afthel-e is represented a camera 88 molmted on a trippd and held by the said threaded end 82.

The structure of the clamp screw or cameraattaching rod 62 is such that the slight upward pressure impartedby the coiled spring 58 causes the said rod 82 to be held in the position shown in Fig. 1, so that the threaded end 82 of the said rod 82 extends above the disk or support plate 88 for enga in the camera or other object to be supported upon the tripod. This structure provides an easy means for locating the camera attaching nut on the camera over the threaded end 82 for engaging therewith. The handle 8| of the support tube 58 can then be turned in a clockwise direction, to engage the threaded end 8! with the camera'nut itself,.which latteris not herein shown.

When the upper clutch member 15 is turned in a contraclockwise direction, the support tube-58 moved vertically through the tripod'head 0.

so as" further to elevate the camera, as shown in me 9. I

, It may be desirable at times to support the lug nut thus clamp the spring 56 and the disk 86 securely in place to the tripod head 28. When this structure is used, the said clampingrod 82 is,

of course, shortened up as shown in Fig. 8.

The tripod herein disclosed has 'a structure that assures absolute rigidity regardless of the position in which it is'used, and provides a vertically extensible supporting member that is also held very rigidly and without any shaking even thoughfully'extended. The entire structure can be manufactured at a. reasonable cost and yet maintain a high order of precision. The tripod isan all-metal one, nothing but metal being employed, except for' the felt pads and washers,

which may, if desired; beomitted.

Having thus described two embodiments of the invention; it is to be understood that al-' though specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic'and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation. thescope of the invention being set, forth in. the following claims.

I claim:

each leg is free to be swung for use independently of all-the other'legs, in and'out from vertlcal position into' 'substantially horizontal position, and independent means to lock such leg at '.a predetermined angle that is ln'aterially 'less than the said horizontal position, regardless of the position of the other legs.

2. A tripod for photographic cameras or. the like comprising in: combination, atripod head having a series of legs hinged thereto to be swung in and out, eachof said legs having a'bell crank locking member 24 pivoted thereto and-engage- :lble with the tripod head to hold the leg in p si- 3. 'A tripod for. photographic cameras or the like comprising in combination, a tripod head having a series of legs hinged thereto to be swung in and out, and spring means carried by-tlie said close to the floor orground'. This tripod head positioned to engage and bear downwardly upon and thereby apply tension directly downwardly to the upper end of each of the tripod legs the downward direction of the leng hwise 3 cally extending support tube 58 from the tripod 1. A tripod for photographic cameras or the like comprising in combination, a tripod head av series of legs hinged thereto so that axis of each such leg in the several positions of the legs in the use of the tripod.

4. A tripod for photographic cameras or the like comprising in'combination, a tripod head having a series of legs hinged thereto to be swung in and out, a ring-like spring member 58 secured to the said tripod head and having parts respectively directly engaging the legs, so as to bear downwardly thereon with spring force, and thereby to apply pressure thereto in the dowm ward direction or their lengthwise axis thereof, in their several positions of use.

5. A tripod for photographic cameras or the like comprising in combination, a tripod head having a series of legs hinged thereto to be swung in and out, a ring-like spring member 56 secured at the under side of the tripod head and having radial spring .iingers 51 to bear respectively directly downwardly upon and apply pressure to the upper ends or the tripod legs in the downward direction of the lengthwise axis thereof.-

6. A tripod for photographic cameras or the like comprising in combination, a tripod head,

having means to support a camera or the like for movement about an upright axis, and having a series of legs hinged thereto so that each leg is free to be swung inand out i'rom vertical position into substantially horizontal position indehaving means to support a camera or the like for movement about an upright axis, and having swung upon its pivot a series oi legs hinged thereto so as to be free to be swung in and out from vertical position into substantially horizontal position, each of said legs having a bell crank locking member 24 pivoted thereto and engageable with the tripod head to hold the leg in position at an angle less than such horizontal position.

8. A tripod for photographic cameras or the like comprising in combination, a tripod head having a series of legs hinged thereto to be swung in and out, each 01' said legs having a stop member engageable with the structure or the tripod head to prevent the legs from spreading, the said stop members of the legs being distinct from and independent of each other, so that any one or more of said stop members can be rendered active or inactive to perform the function thereof regardless of the other said stop members.

9.-A tripod for photographic cameras or the like comprising in combination, a tripod head having a series of legs hinged thereto to be swung in and out, each of said legs having a stop member engageable with the structure of the tripod head to prevent the legs from spreading, the said stop members of the legs being distinct from and independent of each other, so that any one or more of said stop members can be rendered active or inactive to perform the function thereof regardless of the other said stop members, each of said stop members consisting-of a lever pivoted to the respective leg and engageable or non-engageable with the tripod head in the downward swinging movement of such leg, according to the position into which such lever may be by the user of the tripod. VERNON E. WHITMAN. 

